Curtain rod



Jan. 13, 1942 c. F. HENRY CURTAIN ROD Filed Jan. 2,' 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 13, 1942. P, HENRY 6 2,269,626

CURTAIN non Filed Jan 2, 1940 2 She ets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 4404 GAMI/ ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 13, 1942 UNETED PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to curtain fixtures, and particularly to those fixtures or rods of the curtain pull cord type, whether sectional or non sectional.

An object of my invention is to enable the operator to move the members of a pair of ourtains simultaneously in opposite directions to or from each other by a pull upon either of the two ends of a pull cord by the operator standing near one end only of the fixture.

Further objects of my invention are to enable dispensing with clips orother devices heretofore necessary for adjustably connecting the pull cord with a hanger, and to provide a more effective, simple and inexpensive adjusting means for the cord relatively to a hanger, which means shall form a constituent part of the hanger itself.

Additional objects are to provide pull cord guarding means for preventing abrasion or cutting of the depending pull cord ends; to avoid the requirement of numerous pull cord guides; to render unnecessary telescopical end pieces; to simplify the construction of the device, and to reduce the expense of such construction to a minimum.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and more specifically defined in the claim appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawings which are a part of this specification, and in which is shown merely a preferred form of embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my fixture or curtain rod showing fragmentarily curtains supported thereby;

Fig. 2, a section of the same taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the curtains being omitted;

Fig. 3, a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, showing a part of the rod and broken away;

Fig. 4, an enlarged diametrical section of one of the cord guards as mounted;

Fig. 5, a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6, a perspective view of one of the actuating hangers;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of actuating hanger; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively side and sectional views of a modified arrangement for the cord passageway of an actuating hanger.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

As herein illustrated 9, 9 represent sections of a hollow curtain rod ill of the straight type,

each section comprising the usual central vertical portion or web ll extending throughout its length, and the common inwardly directed vertical transversely U-shaped fianges l2 integral with the top and bottom of the web provided with the familiar perforations l3 near their outer ends. The brackets for supporting the rod may be of any form best adapted for this purpose. In the present instance such end brackets comprise attaching plates IS carrying hooks ll comprising horizontal supporting portions I8, and vertical fingers I9 extending loosely through the perforations l3. 1

The curtains or draperies 2|, herein shown in two sections, are severally suspended from the rod ill by actuating hangers 23 and follower hangers 24. The hangers 23 are two in number and each is attached to the adjacent inner end of each curtain. The hangers 23 are endless oblong rings preferably made of half round metal stock whose central or slide orifices 26 are of such dimensions as to insure loose and unimpeded travel along the suspension rod in which they surround. Eyes 28 in integral lugs or finers 29 afford passage therethrough for threads or other devices usual or convenient for engagement with the curtains. The intermediate portion of the rear side or leg 3| of each hanger 23 is provided with a lateral opening 32 disposed transversely of the hanger and at right angles to the wall of the slide orifice 26.

The follower hangers 24 are identical with the described hangers 23 except that the lateral openings 32 are omitted.

Near one end of the rod I0 is mounted a guide 34 comprising a disk 35 provided with a peripheral groove 36 and secured to the web ll of the rod by a rivet 31. A pull cord 39 passes over the grooved portion of the guide intermediate its length forming two longitudinally disposed portions 4| movable in opposite directions in the rod, and terminating in depending operating ends 42. Each cord portion 4| passes rearwardly through the opening 32 of one of the two actuating hangers 23 so as to be turned into locking engagement with the opening edges and thus insure movement of the actuating hangers 23 with their respective cord portions as soon as tension is exerted upon the operating end 42 of either cord portion. When, however, it is desired to adjust the hangers 23 upon the cord, in the absence of longitudinal tension, each or both of the cord portions 4| is manually grasped and pulled rearwardly and transversely of the rod l0, whereupon the cord portions 4| easily slide any desired distance.

For accommodation of the dependin operating ends 42 of the cord the lower flange l2 of the rod is provided with two piercings 45 in longitudinal alignment with each other near the end of the rod opposite to that in which the guide 34 is located. Mounted in each of these piercings or openings is a guard member 46 comprising an annular transversely rounded body 41 within the piercing and end flanges 48 clinched tightly upon the opposite faces of the rod adjacent the piercings. The operating ends 42 of the cord as they are alternately pulled through the eyelet shaped members 46 are thereby protected against cuttin or abrasion by the raw edges of the piercings 45.

To completely or partially open or close the curtains the operator stands conveniently to the end of the rod ID from which the cord portions 42 depend. A downward pull upon one end 42 causes the curtains to simultaneously separate. A similar pull upon the other end 42 causes the curtains to simultaneously approach each other. in each instance the actuating hangers positively impel the curtains, while the follower hangers 24, as their name implies, are merely dragged along the rod by the curtain. Economy of efiort is attained by securing simultaneous movement of two curtains in opposite directions by a single pull upon one cord end.

The transverse or lateral openings 32 in the body or frame of each hanger 23 enables facile adjustment upon the cord, are economic to produce, and dispenses with the disadvantages of auxiliary means of an obstructing character. Although the drilling of the openings in the metal stock of the actuating hangers will result in sharp edges to more effectively grip the cord and thus ensure the desired lock, it may be preferred to form the opening with acute angle sides as indicated at 49 in Fig. 7 of an actuating hanger 32a, to produce a more positive releasable lock, the side of the hanger being flattened if necessary to permit punching of the opening. Or the opening may be countersunk on at least one side, as indicated at 50 in Figs. 8 and 9, to produce a sharp inner edge 5| for more effective gripping of the cord. The use of a gripping opening thus provides a very simple and inexpensive arrangement for an actuating hanger.

The guard members 46 not only prevent wear, cutting, and abrasion of the cord end portions by their reciprocation under tension, and economically, but enable dispensing with elements heretofore employed in this art.

While I have described specific constructional embodiments of my invention, it is obvious that changes in the material, and the size, shape and arrangement of the parts, may be made to suit the requirements for different curtain adaptations, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

A master hanger for use with a'hollow slotted curtain rod equipped with an operating cord, said hanger having an opening in a side thereof adapted to align with the slot in the curtain rod and to receive the operating cord therethrough, said opening having means for releasably holding the received cord against movement relative to the hanger.

CHARLES P. HENRY. 

